Air-pressure system of lighting.



N0. 697,0l5. Pa-tnted Apr. 8, I902.

J. E. RAFF.

AIR PRESSURE SYSTEM OF LIGHTING.

(Application filed Mar. 18, 1901.)

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" T'Tnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES RAFF, OF GARWIN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO HARRY V. MOYER AND EDWIN BEERY, OF GARWIN, IOlVA.

AlR-PRESSURE SYSTEM OF LIGHTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,015, dated. April 8, 1902.

Application filed March 18, 1901. Serial No. 51,749. (No model.)

To all 107mm, may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. RAFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Garwin, in the county of Tama and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Air-Pressure System of Lighting, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in lighting systems.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of lighting systems in which the supply-tank is located at a point remote from the lights, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive one which will enable the supply-tank to be cut out for a limited length of time for supplying it with gasolene or other liquid hydrocarbon without affecting the lights.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

The figure of the drawing is an elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention and forming a part of a lighting system.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a compressed-air reservoir, preferably in the form of a cylindrical receptacle, provided at the top with a suitable air-valve 2 and having a conical bottom, as indicated in dotted lines in the drawing, and provided with a depending annular flange 3, forming a base or support for the reservoir. The top 4 is also conical, and from the apex thereof extends a vertical pipe 5, upon which is mounted a suitable pressure-gage 6 for indicating the pressure of the air Within the reservoir. The air within the reservoir may be compressed by any suitable means, preferably by connecting an air pump or compressor with the valve 2.

The reservoir is connected by a main airpipe 7 with a tank 8, preferably cylindrical, and provided with conical ends and adapted to contain gasolene or other liquid hydrocarbon or other fuel which when mixed with air will produce an illuminating-gas. The main air-pipe extends from the top of the tank to the pipe 5 at a point adjacent to the upper end of the reservoir, and the bottom of the tank is connected with a main supplypipe 9, having a short connecting-arm 10 at the bottom and extending vertically at one side of the tank. The tank is provided with a suitable gage 11 for indicating the quantity of liquid within it, and it will be apparent that such liquid will rise in the main supplypipe and will stand at the same level in the said supply-pipe as in the tank. The main air-pipe is provided with a suitable valve 12, and a similar valve 13 is mounted in the main supply-pipe adjacent to the lovger end of the tank, so that the tank may be cut out of the system while it is being refilled, and it is provided at the top with a filling-opening 14, and it has a suitable closure for the same. The reservoir l'is also connected with the main supply-pipe at a point beyond the valve 13 with an auxiliary pipe 15, adapted to contain a quantity of the gasolene or other fuel and to permit the same to be temporarily utilized for wholly supporting or supplying the system with gas while the tank is being refilled. The pipe 15 extends from the lower end of the vertical portion of the main supply-pipe 9 at a point above the valve 13 to the upper portion of the reservoir-pipe 5,and its lower portion is adapted to contain a quantity of gasolene or other fuel used. It is provided at its upper portion at a point above the tank with a valve 16, and it has a cook 17, arranged a short distance beneath the said valve 16 and adapted to permit" the escape of air from the lower portion of the auxiliary pipe 15 to permit the gasolene or other liquid fuel to rise within the said lowerportion of the pipe 15. By this construction a quantity of the fuel is forced into the lower portion of the auxiliary pipe 0 15, which is adapted to hold a sufficient quantity to maintain the system in operation while the supply-tank is being refilled. When the tank is cut out, as before explained, the air from the reservoirpasses through the supple- 5 mental pipe 15 through the liquid hydrocarbon contained therein, and sufficient illuminating-gas will be thus produced to supply the burners with fuel and to enable a system of lights to be maintained uninterrupt- 10o edly while the tank is being refilled. The reservoir 1 is adapted to contain sufficient compressed air to. force the fuel to the burn- ,ers, and the flow of the gas or fuel may be controlled by the several valves.

It will be seen that the construction and arrangement are exceedingly simple, and that the apparatus is inexpensive, and that it provides means for effectively producing illuminating-gas and will enable the tank to be temporarily out out for filling without interfering with the lighting system.

The main supply-pipe may be connected I with the burners in any suitable manner, and

the apparatus may be located in a cellar,

basement, Outhouse, or any other point rea main air-pipe extending directly from the air-reservoir to the fuel-tank, a main supplypipe extending from the bottom of the fueltank, a supplemental pipe extending from the main supply-pipe at a point adjacent to the plane of the bottom of the fuel-tank to the air-reservoir and having an upright portion adapted to contain a portion of the fuel and provided witha valve 16 and with a cock 17 located below the valve and adapted to be open to permit the fuel to rise in the upright portion of the supplemental pipe, said supplemental pipe forming a passage or conduit for the air when the tank is cut out for refilling, and valves for cutting out the tank, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES E. RAFF.

Witnesses:

T. J. BEERY, J. B. BYWATER. 

